Thursday, January 28, 2010

My Blog, MY Rules

Those words were directed at me recently and while I admit, I was a little put off by it at first ...I'm starting to warm up to the idea.

It all began when I decided to read down the list on Yeoldfurt's blogroll. When I read posts, I like to read the comments too because sometimes other people see a different angle that I might have missed. I read the lady's post and then moved on to the comments. The post was about some recent hardships in her family such as her stepdad getting laid off recently. That's a tough break. Since Yeoldfurt has been out of work for nearly 10 months, I can certainly relate.

The first comment was sympathetic and encouraging.

The second comment began the same way but then launched into "It just seems like you were so hoping that 2010 would bring relief and here we are so soon into and you are again back in it. Things will look up - it can't keep going downhill from the backlash of the Bush years - it has to improve eventually and I would like to think sooner than later."

There was much more to the second comment. The words quoted above were neatly tucked into the middle of several less caustic paragraphs. But boy did they stick in my craw. I decided to leave a comment of my own ...first a word of encouragement to the lady whose stepdad was laid off and second to address the 'backlash from the Bush years' comment already posted.

In my comment, I said to the blog owner, "I'm sorry things are rough and getting rougher. Are your folks of a prepper mindset as well?

And, directed at the previous commentor, I added "I just have to ask about your 'backlash from the Bush years' comment. Surely you don't blame this crash and burn economy all on Bush??? Surely not. Bush did some things I didn't like but at what point does Obama get to own the (sad) state of affairs in this country? The man has been in office for a year already. Forgive me if I misinterpreted your 'backlash' comment."

Now I thought at the time that I was being pretty darn polite and diplomatic. If I had said what I was thinking, the fur would have been flying. But I guess both of us got put in our place when the blog owner said "Now now, let's stay away from the politics please. Unless I bring it up, my blog, my rules. I have a bunch of readers from all different walks of life. Thank you for understanding."

I think the tone set by starting off with 'Now, now...' is what rubbed me wrong ...as if we were in grade school and caught arguing on the playground. But after mulling it over for a bit, I decided that 'my blog, my rules' must certainly be universal. So from now on I'll keep my opinions (especially the political ones) on my own blog and limit my comments (and probably my reading) to like-minded bloggers. But I don't mind if my readers choose to disagree with me or even with each other on my blog. I don't want to have my opinions censored and I don't want my readers to feel like they can't say what they think. So keep it clean, keep it polite, but for heaven's sake KEEP IT REAL ...say what you think!

With that in mind, I'd just like to ask ... at what point does Obama get to own the (sad) state of affairs in this country? The man has been in office for a year already!!

I don't think I could have kept quiet with the comments either. It is a very touchy subject in this country and at the forefront of life. Bantering about it is also what generally helps us form our opinions and beliefs.

As far as owning his part, Obama never will. He is too arrogant and bent on the power. Owning it would lower his public image (what's left of it anyway). I agree that Pelosi and Reid are just as much to blame.I am hopping off of my soap box now.

Obama will never own up to how bad he has screwed up this nation with the help of that namby-pamby, gutless, yes-people called Congress. Sometimes I think he is just a figure-head and no matter who was put in the White House, this would've happened. We need to vote the incumbents out. Maybe a fresh set of crooks will help.

@FelI agree. What's the point of inviting comments if you are going to censor them?

@CraftivistAgreed. It is and should be a given but I think it should be clear up front too. That was the first time I was called down for making a comment. Had there been a 'no politics' rule posted on that blog, I might have abstained from commenting. But then again, the person before me to whose comment I was responding would have been outside the 'rules' as well. Perhaps THEIR 'bush backlash' comment would not have been there for me to react to in the first place. On MY blog, I welcome comments. I would appreciate my readers being respectful and polite to each other ...but that does not mean I expect them all to agree, with ME or with others who choose to comment.

As for Obama 'owning' anything ...he is absolutely responsible for what HE's imposed on this country (stimulus, bailouts, etc.) but I don't think 'owns' it in the sense he himself feels he is responsible. He is still pointing fingers and making reference to the 8 years before him. He (and many others) forget that we had a DEMOCRATIC congress for most of the Bush years. A lot of the issues Obama is blaming on Bush were created by his own cronies in Congress!

@PaulaObama IS arrogant and so are Pelosi and Reid. I think Obama is pushing for so much so fast because he knows his days are numbered. There is no way he would ever get re-elected at this point. Even the blind can see what he is now!

@SharonWelcome to my blog, Sharon! I know you've been following for while, but I haven't seen you comment before. I'm glad you did.

Yes, a fresh set of crooks might be just the ticket! If we really clean house to the point that the majority of politicians are NEW BLOOD, maybe they would all be a little less cocky and little more eager to please the people!

I think a president "owns" the state of affairs as soon as he/she is sworn into office. Any candidate for presidency should know the state of affairs our country is in when they run for office.It is up to that person to turn any thing around for the good of the country and the people who make up the country and not point fingers and constantly belittle the former administration like a five year old child. So far I have not seen anything in this entire administration that remotely points to doing anything for the good of the people. It's all about power to them. It is certainly not for the love of country. A person commented on my blog a couple of weeks ago. "Didn't I think we were better off than a year ago?" I had to let them "have it" There is nothing in my family, town or state that is better than a year ago.

I couldn't agree more, Mamabear. The news media will tell you unemployment is roughly 10 percent, but in reality it's closer to 17 percent because 'their numbers' don't include the poor souls who've used up their benefits and still don't have a job. If we ran our household finances the way this administration has run the country's finances, we'd be in jail ...and the poor house.

I am hoping some GOOD candidates surface before 2012 and, if they're smart, they'll run a platform of change ...only this time, change for the better!

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About Me

I am a wife and a mother and a grandmother. I am a Christian and stubborn about my principles. I believe in right and wrong and that there is very little that falls into the gray area in between.
I am fiercely loyal to my principles, one of the first of which is being loyal and supportive to my husband.